“there has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free?”thomas...

“There has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free?” Thomas Jefferson

What does this quote means? What do you think he is saying about

American people?

• Americans showed their pride in their country and support for their government in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the world trade center and the Pentagon. Why do you think so many Americans suddenly felt so patriotic? Do you think people are more or less patriotic during times of crisis in American history? Explain.

Introducing Government Introducing Government in Americain America

Chapter 1Chapter 1

How government impacts your lifeHow government impacts your lifeSilverado is a public school therefore it is prohibited

by the federal government from discrimination.School boards regulate your education and make

your teachers get state certified.The ages at which you could get your drivers'

license, drink alcohol, and vote.Federal government issues you a social security

number and when you start working you must pay your taxes.

Some student loans come from the government.School holidays

Intro into American GovernmentIntro into American Government

Politics and government matter.Americans are apathetic about politics

and government.American youth are less likely to be youth are less likely to be

informed about government and informed about government and politics and participate less in politicspolitics and participate less in politics.

The Political Disengagement of College Students Today (Figure 1.1)

Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age Presidential Election Turnout Rates by Age (Figure 1.2)(Figure 1.2)

GovernmentGovernment

Definition:–The institutions and processes

through which public policies are made for society.

This definition leads to two basic questions:– How should we govern?– What should government do?

Governments typically maintains a national defense, provide services, collect taxes, and preserve order.

PoliticsPoliticsDefinition:

–The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders produce. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

Also consider Harold Lasswell’s definition:– Who gets what, when and how.

The media focus on the who of politics - the voters, candidates, groups and parties.

The whatwhat refers to the substance of politics and government – benefits, such as medical care for the elderly ad new taxes.taxes.

The how makes up political participation.

According to Harold Lasswell, “politics” is concerned with determination, by official governmental decision-making and action, of (1) who who in political society in political society receives what benefitswhat benefits, rewards, and advantages and how much of them they receive, (2) when they receive the benefits, rewards, and advantages, and (3) the methods by which they receive them. Conversely, "politics" is also concerned with determining, by governmental decision-making and action, (1) who in society is denied what benefits, rewards, and advantages, (2) when and how long they are denied them, and (3) the methods by which they are subjected to such deprivations.

The Policymaking The Policymaking SystemSystem

The process by which

policy policy comes into comes into being and being and

evolves evolves over timeover time.

Figure 1.3Figure 1.3

PeoplePeopleInterestsProblemsConcerns

Linkage Linkage InstitutionsInstitutionsDefinition: Linkage institutions are the political

channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.

Political PartiesPolitical Parties ElectionsElections News & Entertainment MediaNews & Entertainment Media Interest GroupsInterest Groups PAC: Political Action CommitteePAC: Political Action Committee

Policy AgendaPolicy AgendaPolitical Issues–These arise when people disagree when people disagree

about a problem and how to fix it. about a problem and how to fix it. That attracts attention form public officials.

Items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of first.

It may take years to get an item on the policy agenda, and then several more years to get it acted on.

http://change.gov/agenda/

Policymaking InstitutionsPolicymaking InstitutionsDefinition: Policymaking institutions are the branches of

government charged with taking action on political issues. Includes all decisions and non decisions made by Includes all decisions and non decisions made by governmentgovernment..

Legislature (Congress)Executive (President)Courts (Federal and State)

Bureaucracies (Federal and State)

Public Policy: a choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman.

Policies Impact People

Impacts of Policies:– Does it solve the problem?– Does it create more problems?

Depending on the answer, policy impacts carry the political system back to its point of origin: the concerns of people.


The Communist Manifesto

"The history of all hitherto societies has been the

history of class struggles…” Written by Karl Marx in Karl Marx in

18481848. It has been noted as one of the most famous political documents ever written.

“ A specter (ghost) is haunting Europe. It is the specter of Communism.”

DDeemmooccrraaccyyDefinition: Definition: A system of selecting policymakers A system of selecting policymakers

and of organizing government so that policy and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s represents and responds to the public’s preferences.preferences.– Robert Dahl 5 criteria: Robert Dahl 5 criteria:

Equality in votingEquality in votingEffective participationEffective participationEnlightened understanding: Enlightened understanding: Free speech and a Free speech and a

free pressfree press

Citizen control of the agendaCitizen control of the agendaInclusionInclusion


American Political Culture and Democracy

Political Culture: An overall set of values widely shared within a society.American culture is diverse and comprised of:– Liberty: Liberty: “Give me Liberty or give me

death” Patrick Henry– Majority Rule: Majority Rule: choosing among

alternatives required the majority’s desire to be respected.

Theories of U.S. Democracy…Theories of U.S. Democracy…Pluralist Theory

– A theory of government and policies emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

Groups will work together Public interest will prevail through bargaining and

compromise

Many groups fight for power with no one Many groups fight for power with no one group dominating politics. group dominating politics.

Theories of U.S. Theories of U.S. Democracy…Democracy…Elite and Class Theory

– A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Not all groups are equal

Policies benefit Policies benefit

those with money / those with money / powerpower

Theories of U.S. Democracy…Theories of U.S. Democracy…Hyperpluralism

– A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

– A state in which many A state in which many groups groups or or factionsfactions are so strong that a are so strong that a government is unable to function.government is unable to function.

Exaggerated / perverted form of pluralismConfusing / contradictory policiesGridlock- inability to act at all

Challenges to DemocracyChallenges to DemocracyIncreased Technical ExpertiseIncreased Technical ExpertiseLimited Participation in GovernmentLimited Participation in GovernmentEscalating Campaign CostsEscalating Campaign CostsDiverse Political InterestsDiverse Political Interests

Individualism is the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government.

Individualism is highly valued in the United States with a strong preference for free markets and limited government.


How Active is American Government?

It spends about $3.1 trillion annuallyIt employs over 2.2 million peopleIt owns one-third of the landIt occupies 2.6 billion square feet of office spaceIt owns and operates 400,000 nonmilitary vehiclesIt is almost 17 trillion dollars in debt.

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of GovernmentGovernment

How big a role does the Constitution say should be played by the federal government?

Does a bigger, more involved (active) government limit the people’s freedoms?

Do we need a bigger, more involved government to protect our freedoms?

Questions about the Scope of Questions about the Scope of Government, continued…Government, continued…

Do competing political parties make for better policies?

Do more interest groups create a bigger government?

Does the media help control the size and policies government?


Can the president control the government, or has it gotten too big?

Can Congress respond to the needs of the people, or just to the interest groups?

Do members of Congress expand government by seeking to be re-elected?


Do the federal courts overstep their bounds and intrude on the powers of other branches of government?

Are the federal agencies too large and unresponsive to the public they are supposed to serve?

“there has never been, nor ever will be, a people who are politically ignorant and free?”thomas...

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